Conference Funding
The VIU Student Travel and Conference Fund, the CUR - Social Sciences Student Travel Awards and the Students' Union's Jessica Wilde Conference Participation Fund are available to students who are seeking financial support to participate in conferences, workshops, and colloquia related to their studies at VIU. For full details go to The Student Funding Page.
Geography Student Scholarships
Geography Student Scholarship Application Form
Deadline: Friday, April 12 2024 at 3:30 pm
The application must be completed and submitted via email directly to the Chair of the Geography Department.
The Geography Department at Vancouver Island University (VIU) awards two annual scholarships currently valued at $100 each. Awarding of these scholarships is competitive and is based on both academic achievement and service to the university or community related to geography. The first scholarship is awarded to a declared Geography student completing their 2nd year of studies who will be returning to VIU to continue his or her studies in Geography. This student should ideally have a GPA of 3.67 (A- average) or higher in their first and second-year Geography courses completed at VIU. The second scholarship is awarded to a declared Geography student completing their 3rd year of studies who will be returning to VIU to continue his or her studies in Geography. This student should ideally have a GPA of 3.67 (A- average) or higher in their third-year Geography courses completed at VIU. For both scholarships, the student must have maintained an 80% course load (4 courses per term) or higher during their 2nd or 3rd (respectively) year of academic studies at VIU.
The Don Stone Geography Scholarship
This is a $500 scholarship available to a top third-year Geography student, continuing at VIU to complete their Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Geography. Selection will be based on academic achievement and a full 100% course load during the third year of study.
NOTE: To order to be eligible for the Don Stone Geography Scholarship, as well as other VIU Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries you need to complete the “Scholarship/Award/Bursary Profile” which is found on your student record. Go to VIU Scholarships Awards and Bursaries for more information. The deadline dates for the creation of your student profile to be eligible for VIU awards are as follows:
VIU Bursaries – October 31 of each year
VIU Scholarships and Awards – March 31 of each year.
The Lady Rose Prize
This prize is awarded to the top-ranking student graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a major in Geography; based on GPA of the best ten upper-level Geography courses. No application is necessary. Prizes are awarded in July.
The prize includes two round-trip tickets on a sightseeing tour of the Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound aboard the MV Frances Barkley, from Port Alberni to Bamfield.
The CAG Undergraduate Award
Each year, The Canadian Association of Geographers presents awards to the most outstanding students graduating in Geography honours/majors programmes at universities or colleges across Canada. At VIU, preference is given to students going on to graduate school that will most benefit from a CAG membership.
Winners receive a complimentary membership in the CAG for the following year and, in addition, their names are announced at the Annual General Meeting and published in the CAG Newsletter.
Geography Department Student Service Award
This award is granted to recognize a geography student who, through their volunteer work, has significantly contributed to the geography department and promoted an excellent learning experience for all the students in the geography program at VIU. The award winner is nominated by a faculty member to the department at the end of the spring semester each year.
Carto Cup Competition
Vancouver Island University has several different programs in which Cartographic Design and Geographic Information Systems are taught. The instructors of these programs are all very proud of their students' abilities. The Geography Department created a contest to encourage VIU students to produce cartographic products of which they can be proud. Any VIU student is encouraged to submit an entry.
Students are encouraged to create a cartographically excellent representation of spatial data using the resources that are available to them. The submission may be on any topic and will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1. Effective communication of the intended information
2. Cartographic quality
3. Innovative design
4. Overall attractiveness
Deadline: 3:30 pm, April 12, 2024.
Submit your map and written documentation to Michele Patterson, Department Chair (geochair@viu.ca)